What is your name and role within Pacific Heights?
There’s only me in Pacific Heights, so my role is all inclusive: writer, producer, engineer, instrumentalist, self-doubter, self-motivator and everything else.
Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
I am currently living in Wellington, NZ and occasionally staying in LA. To be honest outside of my community and word of mouth I couldn’t accurately speak on the music scene, as I never have time to go out. I do feel there is plenty of new talent coming through, just from my limited exposure being a snapshot of the scene.
Your new single The End Is In Sight ft. Joe Dukie is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?
Dallas, aka Joe Dukie from Fat Freddy’s Drop, came to me with a very rough sketch (just guitar and vocals) of the track and I built up the arrangement and sounds around his initial sketch. For me, it is always easy to write/finish a song when you have such a great vocalist and top-line writing to work with.
How did you come to work with Joe Dukie?
We have been great friends for a long time and both hail from the same part of NZ. We have also worked together on one of my previous albums with a track titled ‘Peace’.
Where and when did you record/produce this track?
This album (being a concept record) was probably my fastest and most efficient album to date. From the writing, recording, producing, mixing and mastering the whole process took about three months. I did most of it in my own studio which is here in Wellington.
What equipment/programs do you typically use when producing?
I use mostly software these days. I have a bit of analogue equipment as well. I love analogue for vocals – vintage mics and tube preamps etc. I work in Logic X and have been using Logic for many years now.
Your album A Lost Light will be out on the 31st of August, could you please give us an idea of what to expect and how the album came to life?
This album’s conception was spurred by a very visceral dream I had last year. The dream I experienced was of being a young English sailor in the mid-18th century and embarking on an exploratory journey to a place called ‘The Pacific’ to find a new home for my new family, away from the grind and darkness of London. The first part of the dream being very hopeful and peaceful, but quickly turns when our sailor is thrown off his ship in a storm. The rest of the album is about his survival, and the different stages of solitude and grief.
How do you usually write music?
It varies. I do love listening to all sorts of different sounding music to what I make and look for inspiring harmonic movements within that music. I like to try using different instruments to what I would have used previously, to see if a spark happens with that. If everything fails with my own writing, I like to look to collaboration with other writers.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
The Acid, Nils Frahm, Rival Consoles, Luke Howard, Sevdaliza, Mark Pritchard, Chopin, Moses Sumney, Kelela, Bill Evans, The War on Drugs.
What do you have planned for the remainder of 2018 going into 2019?
Lots of music production work for other artists. Hopefully a holiday.
What do you like to do outside of music?
I don’t really have much time these days away from music related work, but when I do I enjoy spending time with my wife and new baby son. Outside of that, if have down time, I also enjoy watching basketball and cricket alongside reading books.
Favourite food and place to hang out?
Wherever my friends and family are. Ideally with some sharing food and a beverage of some sort.
